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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Oh for the sake of fuck, Dr Ranj!

125 replies

YokoUhOh · 10/01/2017 17:35

Just bought DS1 the CBeebies 'Food' special edition magazine. It contains my biggest gripy fucking bugbear slap bang in the middle of it (I refer you to the attached pic, and I'm not talking about Dr Ranj's incredible dancing eyebrows).

Why is 'finish what's on your plate' still considered good advice? Surely 'eat however much you fancy' is more sensible? There's a obesity epidemic. AIBU to think that children shouldn't be rewarded for finishing everything put in front of them, especially as most portions are too humongous?

Oh for the sake of fuck, Dr Ranj!
OP posts:
picklemepopcorn · 10/01/2017 18:54

I put very small balanced servings on the plate, asked them to finish, and offered more of the foods they liked. That way they got used to trying everything.

TheOtherSock · 10/01/2017 18:56

If we scrape the bottom of the barrel, we could always have glacé cherries.

I've always wanted to try things like custard fruit and cashew apples, but I've never seen them in the shops, so I don't think they count - apparently they don't travel well?

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 10/01/2017 18:58

Yes, stewed & in pies would work and poached too.

Original poster
YokoUhOh · 10/01/2017 19:04

What about ugli fruit?? Sharon fruit???

Glad most of you also think that this is mental because it clearly isI'm not on Twitter so I might try The Doc on FB.

I'm actually dead proud of myself because I came up with my 'baby boomers saying clear your plates contributed to the obesity crisis' theory entirely independently Grin I remember a horrible programme about child obesity where a 5 year old had to be wheeled to school in a wheelchair such was his size. His mum was saying to the journalist 'TELL ME THAT ISN'T HEALTHY!' (Fish, mash, broccoli) but had provided the poor kid with a Mount Everest of food to dig through :(

OP posts:
TheOtherSock · 10/01/2017 19:09

Have both of those, Yoko… Grin

Original poster
YokoUhOh · 10/01/2017 19:16

Sorry theother I'm meant to have one eye on DS2 who is at the 'eat chargers/the carpet/the cat' stage (I've clearly got work to do on his nutrition)

OP posts:
TheOtherSock · 10/01/2017 19:17

Clearly he's after a wide and varied diet Wink

Boogers · 10/01/2017 19:33

TheOtherSock I will see your rambutan (whatever it is Blush) and raise you greengages!

Boogers · 10/01/2017 19:47

Ooh, ooh, I've got two more - prickly pair and dragon fruit! Smile

And I now know what a rambutan is thanks to google!

Boogers · 10/01/2017 19:48

Pear, not pair! Doh!

lalalalyra · 10/01/2017 19:53

Unless the child is allowed to serve their own portion then clear your plate is a terrible rule imo. Even if a plate is carefully balanced nutritionally people sometimes want a wee bit more because of the day they've had, or a bit less. As adults we don't eat the exact same amount every day, yet so many people expect children to clear the same plate amount every day no matter what.

ALLthedinosaurs · 10/01/2017 20:03

I came here to say YABU for telling the fabulous Dr Ranj to fuck off... but actually that is terrible advice, Dr Ranj Angry

Do you think it's written by some cbeebies magazine writer with Dr Ranj's picture slapped on it?

You wouldn't get shit like this from the twins on Operation Ouch Grin

Boogers · 10/01/2017 20:09

Mmmmm, goes all dreamy at the thought of Dr Xand... Halo

KindergartenKop · 10/01/2017 20:16

Jack fruit?

TheOtherSock · 10/01/2017 20:32

Jackfruit and prickly pear, two more for the list!

Anyone seen prickly pear available in the UK? Would imagine you could probably get it in London…

whattheactualflump · 10/01/2017 20:34

Boogers you are welcome to him Dr Chris is the one for me

2017watchoutherewecome · 10/01/2017 20:37

I've never done it with my children because meal times were a misery at home as I wasn't allowed to leave the table until I had eaten everything. My parents would leave the table and I'd sit there on my own. My children serve themselves their portion and the only expectation is that they try some of everything on their plate.

Boogers · 10/01/2017 20:57

TheOtherSock there's a greengrocers in Durham, Robinsons I think it's called, and they sell all kinds of weird and wonderful fruit and veg. I bought one once just because of the Bear Necessities song, and it's prickles are very fine, like cactus prickles. I was picking them out my fingers for days afterwards.

Has anyone mentioned physallis yet?

Lynnm63 · 10/01/2017 21:08

My only stipulation is you can't eat all your protein an carbs and declare yourself full leaving just the veg. If they've eaten roughly equal amounts of everything then they can leave what's left on their plate.

TheOtherSock · 10/01/2017 21:30

Ooh yes, physalis is a good one! Although I always feel a bit wary of physalises (physales? physalides?) because of the faintly sticky glans-like thing they've got going on under the leafy bits.

Asuitablemum · 10/01/2017 22:53

Pomegranate. Tomato. Breadfruit. Blackberries.

Helloitsme87 · 10/01/2017 23:10

Yes let's blame dr ranj for us putting too much food on our kids plates...... Hmm

Ilovetorrentialrain · 10/01/2017 23:13

Good thread - could not agree with you more OP. Can't stand the 'eat it all up' approach. Unhealthy in so many ways.

TheOtherSock · 10/01/2017 23:34

Mmm, pomegranate. For that authentic my-mother-made-me-eat-those-things-using-a-bastard-pin experience Grin

ALLthedinosaurs · 10/01/2017 23:35

Yes. Some parents could do with education regarding portion size but cbeebies mag (cause lets face it, we know it isn't Dr Ranj personally Hmm) is pushing an outdated value.

You know, an outcome can be influenced by more than one contributing factor. Yawn.

Anyway I think most people on this thread are naming fruit or discussing which identical twin doctor is more dreamy 😂